PROBE ON RUSSIA’S EX-DEFENSE MINISTER OPENS

MOSCOW: Russian investigators on Thursday brought criminal charges against former defence minister Anatoly Serdyukov, who was fired a year ago in a major corruption scandal. The once influential minister was charged with negligence for ordering the refurbishment of a private holiday residence in southern Russia and the building of a road to it, said the Investigative Committee, which probes major criminal cases.